-- Rapture --
Chapter 1 - Alone Together
Tuesday November 04, 2003
Scribbler's ramblings: Another fic that I've decided to write. This plot originally came from my "beloved" friend BakaBabi, but she didn't want to write it for fear of ruining the idea. HaHA! But I, Capheine, am brave enough to take on this challenge, and have begun to write this fic.
Okay, enough with the nonsense. Here goes the first chapter.
Disclaimers: No, this isn't the chapter (if it was, it would be one crackery chapter). These are disclaimers saying that I don't own Fruits Basket… or this plot. I just own the words! Sort of.
-=+=-
"Come closer Yuki," Akito beckoned. "Or are you afraid of your master?"
Bent down upon his knees and eyes concentrated on the floor, Yuki inched up a bit closer towards the monster.
Evidently, it wasn't close enough.
Akito seized Yuki by the hair and dragged him so that their noses almost touched, "I said closer my pet! Or do you not understand?! Remember Yuki, boy, you live only to serve and obey me! That and nothing more! Or maybe an accident will befall your precious…"
Up until that moment, Yuki had been imagining a place far, far away from here. Any place; Osaka, Hawaii, the Arctic. But Akito's last few words brought him thundering back to reality. His eyes snapped open, and stared back at Akito boldly.
Yuki's newfound bravery surprised Akito, and he let go of his hair. The look of seething hatred didn't leave his eyes though, "You live only to obey, Yuki. Only to obey me."
Colour rose into Yuki's cheeks, but he contained his anger and annoyance. He settled back down onto his knees, and neatened his hair. "I realize, Akito-sama, that you brought me here for other reasons than to harass me."
"You were always the smart one Yuki," Akito maliciously chuckled, his displeasure visibly disappearing. "I have a task for you, rat. A special task that you, and only you, can and will carry out for me. Understand?"
Yuki glared distrustfully back at him. Task?
Akito didn't wait for an answer, "You must travel to Tokyo - alone. There, you will find a cure…"
A cure? Oh dear God no! Did this mean that Akito had found a cure for whatever mystery disease had plagued him the last 26 years of his life? For too long had Yuki been waiting for him to just up and die, depart from Earth and leave its dwellers in peace. But now, a cure? No no no, this could not possibly be happening!
"… a cure for what you have so aptly named the Sohma curse."
Yuki's thoughts changed from frightened to disbelieving. Had Akito just said what Yuki thought he said? A cure for the curse?
Apparently, Akito was expecting this reaction. He leaned casually against his silk pillows and flicked his dark hair back. "Oh yes, my dear Yuki, a cure from the horrible, terrible, save-me-please curse. With it, you will be able to free yourself from the transformation," he spat.
"Th-thank you Akito," Yuki said, three words he otherwise would never have included in the same sentence. "May I be excused to tell the rest of the Jyuunishi … and Kyou?"
"No," Akito replied simply.
"But… but why?"
"Like I've already told you, mouse, you and only you can complete this task. You and only you will bring back the cure. You and only will benefit from this," Akito pointed out, as if it was the most obvious thing in the entire world.
"And how would you know?" Yuki asked incredulously. Surely there was some way to ensure that all of his cursed relatives would be freed.
Akito's face twisted into sudden anger, "Are you questioning me Yuki?! Do you not believe that I know!? I've given you the opportunity to be freed of something you've always hated and yet you still wish to question my actions!"
He smashed Yuki across the face.
The surprise of the attack left Yuki in shock and stunned pain. "Never ever, question me Yuki. You live only to obey," the evil one flatly murmured.
"Fine. Fine, I'll go." His cheek stung, and his eyes were watery. He stretched up from his kneeled position and strode towards the door.
"Never disobey me Yuki. Because I know. I know every move you make, every word you speak, every time you inhale. Never disobey me."
Never.
-=+=-
"Ano, Kyou … umm … you're sitting on my skirt," Tohru timidly pointed out.
"Oh, oh! Er, so-sor-sorr… I'll get off," Kyou stuttered. "Baka. Next time, don't even let me sit on your skirt. Don't be so clueless, and you should stand up for yourself more."
"Of-of course, Kyou," Tohru responded.
It was their first night alone. Yuki had left to Tokyo for something he wouldn't mention, and Shigure was away at a writer's convention.
Yuki had left without departing words, and Shigure's farewells had come from behind a splintered wall. "I was only trying to teach you some useful posit –" followed by another punch.
So they were alone. Together. And things could not have been more awkward.
"So… so what do you want for dinner, Kyou?"
"Ah, baka! Pick yourself, don't always be so dependent on others!"
"Oh, yes… yes."
"Yea…"
That was their longest conversation all night.
Tohru had panicked and fussed, and finally chosen to have breakfast for dinner. She prepared home-made waffles and oatmeal scattered with strawberries. Kyou grabbed the milk and syrup from the fridge and set the low table for their meal.
They ate in peace. Too much peace. Awkward-could-hear-the-crickets peace.
Say. Something. Say. Something. Say something. Say something. Say something, say something, saysomethingsaysomethingsaysomething, over and over the annoying voice in Kyou's head repeated. And what exactly do you want me to say?! Kyou thought, getting angry at himself. Something intelligent, duh!
"Umm, wow, the sun's bright, eh?" Kyou forced, tired from all his brain work.
"Ano… It's night right now, Kyou," Tohru said, pointing out the window into the darkened sky.
"Oh, yes, of course… but I was just talking about the sun in general," Kyou replied, hoping to save himself from embarrassment. But already his face was colouring and he was cursing to himself, Baka baka baka… he gazed into his lap, which he suddenly found particularly interesting.
Tohru panicked, AI! Of course Kyou was talking about the sun in general! How could you be so foolish Tohru?! 'Kaasan would be ashamed! She folded her delicate hands onto her lap.
If only he knew, she thought.
If only she knew, he thought.
They both looked into each others' eyes, but then looked down sharply when they noticed the other staring.
Ahhh, stupid stupid stupid… thought Tohru.
…stupid stupid stupid! continued Kyou.
They both reached over for the syrup and withdrew their hands quickly when they realized the other was also reaching for it. Tohru's light, clumsy hand bumped and spilt the milk. "AH! Gomenasai, gomenasai, gomenasai!!" Tohru gasped, grabbing a towel and wiping up the milk.
"It's okay, don't worry about it! It wasn't all you fault," Kyou comforted, grabbing another towel and also drying the milk.
Tohru's brown locks fell in front of her face, and Kyou brushed away the strands of hair from her cheek. It was then they realized their faces were only centimetres away.
Kyou blushed and froze. So did Tohru.
So close… they both thought, and turned to gaze at each other.
So close… their faces nearing, and tilting to fit each others' lips.
So close… and yet so far away, as they widened their eyes and leapt away from each other.
"I'll-I'll clean this milk up," Tohru faltered, grabbing the rag and vigorously wiping at a spot on the table, knocking the syrup and sugar over simultaneously.
"And, I'll go upstairs to do… stuff," Kyou said, dashing out the door and sprinting upstairs noisily.
Once away from each others' presence they stopped and thought. Tohru with sugar and syrup melting into one another before her, Kyou gasping for breath and heart beating fast.
So close.
-=+=-
Scribbler's ramblings: So there! By far, the easiest and shortest chapter that I've ever written. Wha-cha! I'm glad this chapter came so easily… especially since I'm trying to make this fic fluffy (augh, fluff so incredibly difficult to write for a witch like me).
Remember, flamethrowers are okay as long as they're constructive.
And now for shameless advertising of other stories!
If you want to squander your time then you can read my other fics, My Tomorrow and To Gaze at Wonder. Both are one shots, but if you want to read something longer, you can skim through Blue Moon.
My friends have also written pretty decent fics. Kcarrie and her ridiculously successful parody Autumn's Farewell (based on a Korean drama), as well as The Matrix (I'll leave you to puzzle over that one).
BakaBabi has 2, I repeat 2, HILARIOUS fics. You'll get cramps, I swear. Missing Love and Case Wide Open.
Okay, I'm done with my advertising.
Wednesday November 05, 2003